Close center slot perforating device



Feb. 12, 1963 H. w. HENN CLOSE CENTER SLOT PERFORATING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 29, 1960 INVENTOR. HARRY WALTHER HENN ATTORNEY Feb. 12, 1963 H. w. HENN CLOSE CENTER SLOT PERFORATING DEVICE 2 sheets sheet 2 Filed Feb. 29. 1960 FIG.8.

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6 3 2 1 5 H w 2 1 2 luds- G y l F 7 W 2 w l .1 m "a I 3| 90, 9 6 I 1 ,I I Z 3 ,4 a w 4 0. 2 Z]. 53 QQQQQQ 1! W m W HARRY WAL INVENTOR. THEIR HENN fi ATTORNEY U d S 0 F n1t tats atent C6 Fatented is, race 3 7 Another inherent necessity is that conventional gang ELfifiE CENTER SLGT PERFGRATWG DEVECE Walther Henri, 9925 Duly Road, Cincinnati, Ghio Filed Feb. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 11,739 3 Claims. (Cl. 83-687) This application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 852,066 filed November 10, 1959, for Metal Stamping and now abandoned.

My invention relates to devices for perforating materials requiring that the perforations be in close proximity each to the other.

it is an object of my invention to provide a perforating device whereby multiple perforations in close relation to each other may be produced by a single perforating operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a close perforating device that will permit close in line of multiple perforations to be accomplished in one operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a perforating punch assembly unit whereby the closeness of the perforations will not be limited by the size of perforating elements when placed adjacent each to the other.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide a punch unit assembly that is readily expanded or contracted to increase or decrease the number of perforating elements which may be rapidly and readily removed or added to the assembled unit and also to rapidly replace perforators with or without the removal of supporting spacers without disassembling the entire punch assembly unit from a punch press or die set.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and novel features will be more readily understood from the description taken in conjunction with tl e, accompanying drawings forming part hereof in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my perforating punch unit assembly in fragmentary section.

FIGURE 2 is a side view in elevation of my punch unit assembly showing a right end plate secured in the keyway in the backup plate.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of right end plate.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a single perforator.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a spacer and perforator support.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a backup plate showing right end plate keyway and dovetail key.

FIGURE 7 is an end elevation showing the perforator, spacer and backup plate assembled together as a unit.

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the punch holder.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional elevation taken on line 9-9 of FIGURE 10 through a pressure pad punch holder and fragment of a press unit assembly looking at the face of the pressure pad.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional elevation of my perforation punch unit assembly and die assembled on a fragmentary section of a punch holder and conventional die set.

FIGURE 12 is a sectional elevation of my punch unit assembly attached to a fragment part of a holder and ram of a press.

The description and drawings are merely illustrative and various modifications and changes may be made Without departing from the principle of my invention.

Like indicia refer to like parts throughout the several views.

The spacing of perforating elements in present conventional gang piercing punch and dies are limited because of the size of shanks necessary to sustain the load of punching.

punches must be completely broken down from assembled condition in order to remove, add or replace a punch element. Replacement or removal of punch elements require that the entire assembled punch unit must be removed from a press before any change or alteration can be made to the present conventional assembly gang punches.

With my invention punches can be placed side by side and permit perforations to be made with a minimum of material between each perforation. Consequently close perforations can be made in one step operation and it is not necessary to disassemble the punch unit assembly to add, delete or replace a punch element while my punch unit assembly is on a punch press.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 there is a left end plate 1 slidably mounted in relation to a backup plate 2 during assembly and in fixed relation t iereto when the perforators re in operational condition. A right end plate 4- is fixed from movement in relation to the backup plate by removably positioning it in a slot 4a in the backup plate. While I prefer the right end plate to be fixed in the backup plate it is apparent either of the end plates could be mounted in this manner but not both at the same time to accomplish my objects. The left end plate acts as a movable clamp jaw and holds spacers 5 and perforators 6 in secured position each to the other in spaced relationship when draw bolts 3 and 3a are screwed into tapped holes 7 and 7a in the left end plate which is drawn towards the fixed right end plate 4 by the draw bolts 3 and 3a.

The perforators 6 have a main rectangular body portion 8 with an extending arm 9 to form a bearing surface 310 that rests on a surface 11 of the spacer. A piercing or cutting surface 12 is provided at the body bottom end 13.

While I have illustrated a rectangular piercing end it becomes apparent that any shape such as arrows, dots, arcs and or circles can be developed within the cutting or piercing area provided. These perforators are machined to micromatic tolerances in thickness so that when they are placed on the spacers the surface 14 of the perforators will be flush with the surfaces 15 of the spacers. The body portion of the perforator is made and limited to the width and length of a slot or any desired hole to be punched. Because of this the spacing of the perforations can be infinitesimally close together. There is no need for an enlarged shank to carry the load of punching because of the combination of the perforator and spacers when secured together coact and are of sufficient strength to withstand the load of punching. Holes 13 in the perforators are provided for slidably retaining them on draw bolts 3a during assembly only. These holes are independent of holes in the spacers and permit the removal of perforators separately from the spacers and the punch unit assembly. The spacers 5 have holes 16 independant of the holes in the perforators for slidably retaining the spacers on the draw bolts 3 which together with the draw bolts 3a hold the spacers and perforators in laminated fixed relations each to the other. The independance of the draw bolts 3 and 3a permit the spacers to be secured together by the draw bolts 3 while spacers are removed when draw bolts 3a are withdrawn. An offset 17 is provided on the spacers and the perforators fit in these offsets and are secured to the spacers when the right and left end plates are held in clamping relationship by the draw bolts 3 and 3a. A dovetail like keyway 19 is provided for engagement with a half dovetail key 2t) integral with the backup plate 2. The keyway is made larger than the key to enable rapid removal of the punch unit assembly as a unit or insertion of any one or all of the spacers and perforators from the punch unit assembly by sliding the spacer away from the key. This eliminates the necessity of disassembling the entire punch unit assembly whenever it is desired to insert or remove additional perforators. The tapered surfaces of the dovetail slot and key are held in operational relationship by a pressure pad 22 that is secured to a punch holder 23 when the backup plate 2 is secured to the punch holder 23. The surface 24 of the pressure pad bears securely against the perforators and spacers and inhibit them from movement while performing perforations.

The backup plate 2 has bolt holes 25 for securing it to the punch holder 23. Dowel holes 26 for dowel pins 27 are provided to position the punch assembly on the punch holder 23. The slot 4:: is provided for securing the right hand end plate from sliding in relation to the backup plate.

The pressure pad has bolt holes 31 for bolts 32 for securing it to punch holder 23 adjacent to and in firm contact with the perforators and spacers. A backup screw 33 is provided adjacent to dowel pin 27 and acts as a gack for easy removal of the pressure pad from the punch holder.

The right end plate has counterbored holes 34 for the draw bolts 3 and 3a and is the means for clamping all the peritorators and spacers in fixed position for punching and piercing. An enlarged half dovetail keyway 35 corresponds to the dovetail keyway on the spacers. One side 36 of the dovetail is beveled while the other side is perpendicular. The keyway is larger than the half dovetail key on the backup plate and allows the end plates, with the spacers and perforators clamped together, to slide sidewise to the key when it is desired to remove the punch unit assembly from the backup plate. This arrangement permits the removal of the right and left end plates, spacers and perforators as a unit after removing the pressure pad from the punch holder. The additional width of the keyway permits movement to the left in relation to FIGURE 1 until the bevel edges of the key and keyway can pass each other and allow the components to be dropped away from the backup plate which can re= main secured to the punch holder.

In practice the overall spread of any number of perforations are held to a prescribed plus or minus tolerance. For example in a spread of perforations using perforators the tolerance is held to a plus or minus two thousandths of an inch. This is accomplished by making every alternate spacer and perforator a pair. The perforators and spacers are held to a mean dimension with alternate spacers and perforators to a tolerance from a mean to plus tolerance dimension and from a mean minus tolerance dimension and each pair is marked over and under. The combination of plus and minus units thus overcome any possibility of cumulative over and under spreading of the perforations.

To assemble my punch the backup plate is secured to the punch holder. My right end plate is then positioned in the slot in the backup plate and secured from sliding in relation to the backup plate. Spacers and perforators in selected pairs and numbers are slid onto the dovetail key side by side in laminated relationship between the right and left end plates. Draw bolts 3 and 3a are screwed into the left end plate which moves together with the spacers and perforators until they are clamped together with the right end plate. if desired the spacers, perforators and end plates can be removed from the backup plate as a unit. After the perforators, spacers and end plates are clamped together they are positioned securely against the dovetail key by the pressure pad which is mounted and secured on the punch holder.

To replace a perforator the draw bolts 3:: are removed up to and past a particular perforator to be replaced. The perforator is removed and replaced without disturbing the spacers. After replacing the perforators the draw bolts are tightened and the punch unit assembly is in operational condition. If it is desired to sharpen the perforators the pressure pad is removed and the spacers, perforators and end plates in clamped relation are removed as a unit and i all the perforators can be sharpened in assembled condition.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

l. A multiple perforator for stamping a series of spaced holes comprising, a punch holder, said holder having a backup plate adapted to be mounted in a punch press, key means disposed along the lower surface of the backup plate, a series of relatively flat punches mounted in said punch holder, the upper end of each punch being seated against the lower surface of the backup plate, respective spacers interposed between said punches, each punch having a portion overhanging the associated spacer and supporting the punch against downward motion, said spacer adapting the punch to be withdrawn laterally from the punch holder, draw bolt means adapted to clamp the spacers and punches in assembled relationship, the upper portion of said spacers adapted to interfit said key means and to lock the spacers to the backup plate in response to lateral pressure of the spacers against the key means, and pressure pad means detachably secured to the backup plate and adapted to force the spacers laterally into clamping engagement with said key means, thereby locking assembly of clamped punches and spacers to the backup plate, said pressure pad means adapted to be removed from the backup plate, adapting the assembly of clamped punches and spacers to be shifted laterally to a disengaged position relative to the key means for removal of the assembly from the holder as a unit, said draw bolt means adapting individual punches to be removed from the punch holder by removing the draw bolt means from the punch holder, whereby the individual punches are shiftable laterally to a disengaged position relative to the spacers.

2. A multiple perforator for stamping a series of spaced holes comprising, a punch holder, said holder having a backup plate adapted to be mounted in a punch press, a key projecting downwardly along the lower surface of the backup plate and having along one side a surface tapered outwardly at less than a right angle to the lower surface of the backup plate and forming a dovetail side on the key, a series of relatively fiat punches mounted in said punch holder, the upper end of each punch being seated against the lower surface of the backup plate, respective spacers interposed between said punches, each punch having a portion overhanging the associated spacer and supporting the punch against downward motion, said spacer adapting the punch to be withdrawn laterally from the punch holder, draw bolt means adapted to clamp the spacers and punches in assembled relationship, the upper portion of said spacers being slotted to interfit said key and to lock the spacers to the backup plate in response to' lateral pressure of the spacers against the said dovetail side of the key, each of said slots having a width greater than the width of said key, adapting the spacer to be disengaged with respect to the said key upon shifting of the spacers laterally from the tapered dovetail side of the key, pressure pad means detachably secured to the backup plate and adapted to force the spacers laterally into clamping engagement with said dovetail side of the key, thereby locking assembly of clamped punches and spacers to the backup plate, said pressure pad means adapted to be removed from the backup plate, adapting the assembly of clamped punches and spacers to be shifted laterally to a disengaged position relative to the dovetail side of the key for removal from the holder as a unit, said draw bolt means adapting individual punches to be removed from the punch holder by removing the draw bolt means from the punch holder, whereby the individual punches are shiftable laterally to a disengaged position relative to the spacers.

3. A multiple perforator for stamping a series of spaced holes comprising, a punch holder, said holder having a backup plate adapted to be mounted in a punch press, key means disposed along the lower surface of the backup plate, a series of relatively flat punches mounted in said punch holder, the upper end of each punch being seated against the lower surface of the backup plate, respective spacers interposed between said punches, each punch having a portion overhanging the associated spacer and supporting the punch against downward motion, said spacer adapting the punch to be withdrawn laterally from the punch holder, a first draw bolt passing through the said spacers and adapted to clamp the spacers and punches in assembled relationship, a second draw bolt passing through the punches and adapted to hold the punches in alignment with one another, the upper portion of said spacers adapted to interfit said key means and to lock the spacers to the backup plate in response to lateral pressure of the spacers against the key means, pressure pad means detachably secured to the backup plate and adapted to force the spacers laterally into clamping engagement with said key means, thereby locking assembly of clamped punches and spacers to the backup plate, said pressure pad means adapted to be removed from the backup plate, adapting the assembly of clamped punches and spacers to be shifted laterally to a disengaged position relative to the key means for removal of the assembly from the holder as a unit, said second draw bolt adapting individual punches to be removed from the punch holder by removing the second draw bolt from the punch holder, whereby the individual punches are shiftable laterally to a disengaged position relative to the spacers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 178,147 Hickok et a1 May 30, 1876 345,190 Stimpson et a1. July 6, 1886 834,887 Calhoun Nov. 6, 1906 864,552 Perkins et al Aug. 27, 1907 1,302,249 Vogetzer Apr. 29, 1919 1,569,136 Pardee Jan. 12, 1926 2,364,339 Becker M Dec. 5, 1944 2,594,932 Judelson Apr. 29, 1952 2,638,984 Errig et a1. May 19, 1953 2,825,407 Widell Mar. 4, 1958 

1. A MULTIPLE PERFORATOR FOR STAMPING A SERIES OF SPACED HOLES COMPRISING, A PUNCH HOLDER, SAID HOLDER HAVING A BACKUP PLATE ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED IN A PUNCH PRESS, KEY MEANS DISPOSED ALONG THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE BACKUP PLATE, A SERIES OF RELATIVELY FLAT PUNCHES MOUNTED IN SAID PUNCH HOLDER, THE UPPER END OF EACH PUNCH BEING SEATED AGAINST THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE BACKUP PLATE, RESPECTIVE SPACERS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID PUNCHES, EACH PUNCH HAVING A PORTION OVERHANGING THE ASSOCIATED SPACER AND SUPPORTING THE PUNCH AGAINST DOWNWARD MOTION, SAID SPACER ADAPTING THE PUNCH TO BE WITHDRAWN LATERALLY FROM THE PUNCH HOLDER, DRAW BOLT MEANS ADAPTED TO CLAMP THE SPACERS AND PUNCHES IN ASSEMBLED RELATIONSHIP, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID SPACERS ADAPTED TO INTERFIT SAID KEY MEANS AND TO LOCK THE SPACERS TO THE BACKUP PLATE IN RESPONSE TO LATERAL PRESSURE OF THE SPACERS AGAINST THE KEY MEANS, AND PRESSURE PAD MEANS DETACHABLY SECURED TO THE BACKUP PLATE AND ADAPTED TO FORCE THE SPACERS LATERALLY INTO CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID KEY MEANS, THEREBY LOCKING ASSEMBLY OF CLAMPED PUNCHES AND SPACERS TO THE BACKUP PLATE, SAID 